Are you into plants?
Did you know there are some kinds of plants that are better for the environment than others?
Did you know that some plants can actually be BAD for the environment? Seems odd, doesn’t it? That plants could be BAD.
Now you can see the GOOD kind — the NATIVE kind — in the “flesh” so to speak.
The LGA has created a demonstration garden of native species at the Lake George Town Hall. (Wanna check it out? Here are directions!)
We worked with town employees to create a garden that includes over 25 different native species, both well-known and less well-known.
The project started out as a infrastructure project to fix stormwater runoff problems on the town parking lot. The LGA contributed $2,000 toward a joint project with the Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District.
From there, town officials took the project a step further by creating a demonstration garden of native plants. Town Supervisor Dennis Dickinson and Councilwoman Marisa Muratori want to encourage folks to see and learn about the many types of beautiful native plant species available. We hope folks will use them in home gardens.
These plants not only prevent erosion problems on their own properties, but to help the Lake as well.
We’re always encouraging people to use native plants in their gardens. Why?
Well on a personal and practical level they are easy to grow, and don’t require much work in terms of maintenance, fertilizer, watering, or pesticides.
And speaking from the Lake’s perspective, the deep roots of native plants absorb and filter runoff more effectively than the short roots of many turf grasses and ornamental plants. 
Also, unlike some ornamental species, these plants will not upset the ecosystem… they won’t become invasive and take over forest understories, and destroying biodiversity.
A few of the plants featured in the garden include: (top to bottom, pictured at left): Laborador Violet, Shrubby Sundrops, Tall Beardtongue, and Wild Columbine. The demonstration garden will eventually be labeled and signage will be added to help people find plants that will work for them.
Native plants come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Some provide interest in all four seasons. Some attract hummingbirds, while others are best for attracting butterflies or birds. There are species that are salt tolerant and others that are deer resistant. In addition, species will thrive differently based upon the available soil, light, and water.
We hope you’ll come by the town hall to see all the plants!
